by Janice Daniel
The Carroll County Board of Education met on Monday, July 14th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at 164 Independence Drive, Carrollton, for their Monthly Work Session, with all present except Board Member Bart Cater (District 6). After the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Miller announced that the Board is certainly going to miss the Board’s Administrative Assistant, Micah Maner, who is leaving to pursue a further career path, and also welcomed Laura Gann as Ms. Maner’s replacement. Bart Cater joined the meeting at 5:37 p.m.
During the entire meeting the sound was very low and much of what was said could not be understood on the livestream. Dr. Jessica Ainsworth, Associate Superintendent of School Performance, provided an update on 2025-26 curriculum and instruction preparation. Superintendent, Scott Cowart, provided an update on the Leadership Kickoff professional learning event for the 2025-26 school year. Glen Harding, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, provided a summary and update on accomplishments of the Carroll County Schools athletic programs, and also updated the Board on facility and construction projects across the district. He asked that the Field Trip requests and Fund-Raising requests be put on Consent Agenda.
Harding reviewed revisions to several school policies which needed to be updated due to State law updates. Administrative Rule JCDA-R: Student Code of Conduct, a 20-page document with several changes will lie on the table to be reviewed for the August Board meeting.
Other policies affected are the IDE: Competitive Interscholastic Activities; the Board Policy GA-A-A: Equal Opportunity Employment; and Review Board Policy GAEB: Sexual Harassment of employees. These documents with changes marked will also lie on the table to be reviewed for the August Board meeting.
Harding asked that the MOU with Willowbrooke (behavioral health facility) be put on the Consent Agenda, but Board Member Sandra Morris (District 2) said that MOU needed to be listed as a Business Item for the July 17th Regular Meeting.
Financial Report for the month of May, 2025 was given by Delene Wolfe, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, who reported there were $13.2 million total revenues; $16.3 million total expenditures; and $46.3 million fund balance. SPLOST VI had $1.9 million in receipts (9.1% increase); $2.3 million in expenditures; and $3.8 million balance for scheduled projects.
The Financial Report Year-to-Date through May, 2025 was as follows:
Total Revenues $175,555,855 87% of Budget
Total Expenditures $157,853,168 77% of Budget
Revenues over Expenditures were at $17,702,698 with 92% of the year elapsed.
General Fund Balance $ 43,482,383
Board Member Cater left the meeting at 6:17 p.m.
Wolfe also presented the 2025 Millage Rate Timeline which showed that July 14th is the date the board sets the tentative millage rate. The board adopted the Rollback Rate of 16.077 with a 6-0 vote. This rate now has to be advertised and approved by the Board in August; however, if this Rollback is adopted in August, no Public Hearings will be required.
Board then went into Executive Session and when they returned to Regular Session, they unanimously approved the personnel actions recommended by the Superintendent.
There was also a motion by Board Member Morris, seconded by Board Member Dr. Bernice Brooks (District 1), to approve the easement request by Midway Church.
The meeting was then adjourned.